Multiple compartment refrigerator, including controls for the refrigerating system thereof



2,462,279 INCLUDING coNTnoLs FOR THE HEFRIGERATING SYS-IEM THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. PASSMAN MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT REFRIGERATOR,

Feb. 22, 1949.

Filed sep-t. 27, 1945 Feb. 22, 1949. c. PAssMAN 2,462,279.

MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT REFRIGERATOR, INCLUDING CONTROLS FOR THE REFRIGERATING SYSTEM THEREOF Filed Sept. 2'? 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 l 9 fZOO w19? LISS 9@{'- (l 9 145 lesy CHARLas Pnssmm f INVENTOR.

Feb. 22, 1949.

` c. PAssMAN 2,462,279 MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT REFRIGERA'IOR, INCLUDING CONTROLS FOR THE REFRIGERATING SYSTEM THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed sept. 27, i945 y Flai! CHnQLr-:s Pasar/MN INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT o FElcE MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT REFRIGERATOR,

INCLUDING CONTROLS FOR THE REFRIG- ERATING SYSTEM THEREOF Charles Passman, New\\York, N. Y., asslgnor to S. F. Bowser & Company, Ltd., Toronto, ntario, Canada, a corporation of Canada Application september 27, 1945, serial No. 618,899

, s claims. (cl. 62-2) i ature evaporator in one compartment and to hold the temperatures in the other compartments by circulating refrigerated air to each of them.

The refrigeration system shown is of the compression cascade type in which two separate refrigeration systems are used and in which the evaporator of one system cools the condenser of the other.

It is therefore an object of thisinvention to provide a multiple compartment refrigerator having gravitational or forced circulation of air.

It is another object of this invention to provide a multiple compartment refrigerator having interconnecting air ducts.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a multiple compartment refrigerator with interconnecting air ducts having thermostatically controlled dampers or shutters.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a multiple compartment refrigerator with interconnecting 'air ducts having thermostats controlling dampers and a blower creating a flow of air between the compartments.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a multiple compartment refrigerator with an electrical circuit for coordination of the dampers and blower in interconnecting ducts to regulate the flow of air to each compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for defrosting the evaporator coils.

These and other objects wil1become apparent from a study of this specification and the drawings Which are attached thereto and made a part thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the refrigerator, partially in section, showing the arrangement of the compartments, the air ducts, the thermostatically controlled dampers, and some of the mechanical elements.

Figure 2 is a right hand end view of the refrigerator, with the greater part of the housing removed, showing the arrangement of the refrigerating mechanism.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the refrigeratingmechanism.

' header 15 of the evaporating coil 5I.

2 Figure 4 is a modified form of the circulation and control means.

Figures 5 and 6 show the modied control mechanism for use with the circulation means of Figure 4.

Figure '1 is a wiring diagram of the arrangement shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the numeral I-designates a base with a sheet metal housing 3 attached to and rising above the base. Louvres 4 are provided in the housing.

An electric motor 5 is mounted on the base and drives compressors 1 and 9. The driving mechanism is comprised of sheave II mounted on motor shaft I9 and connected to compressor l sheave I3 by the belt I5.

Compressor 9 connects by way of conduit 2| with the air-cooled condenser 23, which is located directly in front of the fan I1, mounted on motor shaft I9. The condenser discharges into conduit 25 which splits into two branches 21 and 55. Conduit 21 discharges into the re-A ceiver 29. Conduit 3l is connected to the receiver on the discharge side and splits into conduits 33 and 45. One conduit 33 is joined to the expansion valve 35, which is connected by conduit 31 to coil 39 in the intercooler 4I. Conduit 43 joins the outlet end of the coil to the suction side of compressor 9.

Conduit 45 is the second branch of conduit 3| and is connected to the suction side of the electrically driven pump 41 which discharges into conduit 49 which is wrapped around the evaporating coils 5I and which discharges through the check valve 53 into conduit 55. Thus warm liquid from the receiver 55 may be circulated to defrost the main evaporator 5 I The compressor 1 discharges through conduit 51 into the shell 59 of the intercooler 4I. A conduit 6I leads from the intercooler shell to a receiver 63 which discharges through conduit 65 `and float valve 10 into the float chamber Ii1. The float is designated by the numeral 69 and the liquid level by the numeral 1I. The controller discharges through pipe 13 into the lower The evaporating coil lcomprises a number of U-shaped tubes xed at each end in header 15 which is in the form of a closed rectangular loop as viewed in Figures 1 and 3 .of the drawings. An upper header 11 similar to 15 is connected with the lower header 15 by means of short tubes 19. A

conduit 8| receives the evaporated refrigerant. discharged from theevaporating coil and is con-4 nected to the suction side of compressor 1. The evaporator outlet into conduit 3| is placed at a higher' level than the inlet 13. A tube 94 extends from conduit 3| on the suction side of compressor` 1 to the vacuum switch 93 for controlling the motor 5.

The evaporator is located in a quick-freeze chamber 93 having an linsulated closure 85. All of the refrigerating chambers have double walls withinsulation 9| therebetween. Of course, any

suitable method of insulation may be used.

An air duct 93 extends downwardly inside the insulation between walls 95 and 91 and connects with a second compartment 39 which is a freeze hold compartment. A shutter ||I| is connected by a crank I 93, link |94, and lever |99 which is pivoted at ||9 to a thermostat |05 so that expansion and contraction of the thermostat opens and closes the shutter. A spring |91 assists in returning the shutter to its closed position.

A duct 99 extends through insulated walls I 09 and II| near the bottom of compartment 99 and connects it with the bottom part of the regular refrigeration compartment I I3.

Another duct 5 leads from the top of compartment ||3 into duct |21. A damper |I1 is disposed between ducts I I5 and I 21 and is opened and closed by crank I|3, link I| 9, a 4lever |22 which is pivoted at |24, and thermostat |2|, and is urged to closed position by a spring |23.

A third duct |25 connects compartments 33 and 99 and duct |21 connects ducts II5 and |25. Thermostats |35 and |2| are opened to compartments 99 and II 3 respectively.

The double walled construction around the refrigerated compartments with insulation 9| between is completed by walls |29, |30, I3I, |33 and |35.

Access is provided to compartments 99 and |I3 by doors |31 and |39 having hinges I4I.

Operation of preferred ,form

With the motor 5 not operating, the vacuum in the evaporator 5|, and lines 3| and 94 decreases. as the refrigerant vaporizes in the evaporator, to a point where the switch 35 is actuated. thereby starting motor 5. Motor 5 is the prime mover for compressors 1 and 9. The compressor 1 draws the vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator by way of pipe 9|, compresses and discharges into the intercooler 4| by way of conduit 51. Here the vapor is cooled and liquied and passes into the receiver 53 by way of conduit 5|. The liquid refrigerant passes through the conduit 55 through the float valve 10 into the iloat chamber 51, filling the chamber to the line 1| at which time the float 69 rises to close the valve 10.

In order for the float to close the valve, it is necessary that lthe section of the evaporator 5I be filled below the level of the liquid 1|. It will be noted that the evaporator inlet conduit 13 is located at a lower point than the evaporator outlet conduit 3|.

When the vacuum in the tube' 34 increases to a predetermined point, the contacts in switch 35 are broken, shutting oi the motor 5. l

Compressor 9 compresses the vaporized refrigerant, circulates it through conduit 2| and condenser 23, which is cooled by the blast from fan I1 mounted on motor shaft 9. Conduits 25 and 21 conduct the liquiiled refrigerant to receiver 29, conduits 3| and 33 to expansion valve 35 through conduit 31 to the evaporator from which it passed by way of coil 39 of the intercooler 4| and thence back to the compressor by wa`y of conduit 43. The refrigerant passing through the coil 39 condenses the vapor which is forced into the inter-cooler shell 59 by the compressor 1 and cools the condensate.

The evaporator 5| islocated in compartment 83 and this is designated as the fast-freeze compartment and is preferably held at a temperature of about 50 F. Shutter ||1| is responsive to the expansion and contraction of the thermostat |95, which is open to compartment 99. Expansion of the thermostat caused by a rise in temperature in the freeze hold compartment above the required temperature of about zero degrees F. opens the shutter and permits passage of reirigerated air by gravity into compartment 99. Duct |25 located near the top of compartment 99 is open and in direct communication with the top of the fast freeze compartment so that the warm air displaced by that coming down duct 93 will iiow into chamber 33. Contraction of the thermostat caused by lowering of the temperature in the freeze hold compartment closes the shutter and stops the circulation of refrigerated air.

As the temperature in compartment ||3 rises above the normal temperature which is preterably about 40 F., the thermostat 2| expands and opens shutter ||1. drawing air from compartment 99 through duct |93 while wrrm air passes through ducts ||5, |21 and |25 to the top of chamber 99, thereby raising the temperature of compartment 99. Thermostat |95 expands and opens shutter |9|, allowing free circulation of cold air from compartment 33 to compartments 99 and I I3, and from the tops of both compartments to chamber 33 lowering the temperature ofcompartments 99 and ||3 till the thermostats contract and, with the aid of springs |31 and |23, close shutters III and ||1. 'Ihe duct |21 prevents excessive circulation of 40 air through the freeze hold compartment. The temperature in compartment 33 is raised at the same time and will set in motion motor 5 and compressors 1 and 9, if necessary.

When it becomes necessary to defrost the evaporator coil, the electrically driven pump 41, controlled by a manually operated switch, pumps hot liquid from the receiver 29 by way of conduits 3| and 45 through conduit 49, which is wrapped around coil 5I, and through check valve 53 and conduits 55 and 21 into the receiver. Circulation is continued until such time as defrosting is completed, when the switch is manually opened.

Operation modified form A modied form of circulation system is shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

A blower or fan |43 driven by motor |45 is mounted in duct |41 which connects the freeze hold compartment |33 with the quick freeze compartment |43. Duct |41 and compartment |43 are similar to duct 93 and compartment 33 of Figure 1. The motor is mounted in compartment |49 with shaft I5| extending through wall |53 of the compartment and joining the motor and the blower.

The shutter |55 is operated by crank |53. link |51, and lever |53 which is pivoted at |54 and is connected at its other end to the armature of solenoid I3|.

A duct |53 connects the tops of chambers |43 and |33. A shutter |33 is mounted in the duct and is operated by thermostat |51. The thermostat acts on the operating crank |68 for switch 1| and motion is tranlmitted from the crank |86 to the crank |64 on the shutter by means oi' link |65. Thus, when the crank |66 is rotated clockwise by expansion of the thermostat, it will close switch |1| and open shutter |88. Spring |13 with one end fixed to post |15 retrieves the crank |66 upon retraction of the thermostat.

Duets |11 and |18 and shutter |19 are similar in construction. to ducts and |21 and shutter ||1 (Figure 1) and connect compartments |8I and |48. Crank |86, link |85, and switch lever |98 open the shutter |19 upon expansion of the thermostat |81. Downward movement of the lever |90 closes the switch |89. Spring |9| is fastened to the wall of duct |11 and lever |88 to close the shutter |19 and open the switch upon retraction of the thermostat.

All other elements used in the modication are identical to those shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram showing the circuit controlling the shutters and the blower. From the line |98, wire |95 leads to motor |88 which drives the blower |88 (Figure 4). From the Wire |91, wire 28|) leads to the thermostatically operated switch |88 and thence by wire |99 to motor |85. A second wire 29| leads to switch |1| which is in turn connected to wire |89 and the motor by wire 292. Switch |1| is operable by thermostat |81, while switch |89 is operated by thermostat |81. Solenoid |8| is connected in parallel with motor |85 by wires 288 and 285 and is energized upon the closing of switch 81| or |89.

In the modified form, shown in Figures 4. 5 and 6, compartments 8| and |83 correspond to compartments I3 and 99 of Figure 1 respectively.

As the temperature in compartment |88 rises, the thermostat |81 expands to close switch |1| which starts the blower motor |85 and energizes solenoid |6I.. It also opens shutter |88. The solenoid opens shutters 55 so as to admit cool air from compartment |88. Warm air from compartment |83 then passes through shutter |88 into compartment |88 lby way of duct |83 to establish circulation through the compartment |83.

A rise in temperature in compartment |8| expands thermostat |81 which opens shutter |18 and closes switch |89. This energizes motor |45 and also the solenoid |6| which opens shutter |55. Cold air is blown from compartment |88 through the bottom of compartment |83 into |8| and out through ducts |11 and |83 into the compartment |88 to establish circulation and to refrigerate compartment |83.

A rise in temperature in @compartment |8| expands thermostat |81 which opens shutter |19 f 8 herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a mechanical refrigerator. a refrigerating unit having an evaporator, a refrigerated compartment for said evaporator, a second refrigerated compartment, ducts connecting said compartments for circulating air, a shutter movable between open and closed position and thermostatically responsive to the temperature in said second compartment for regulating said circula-3 tion, and a blower in one of said ducts operating simultaneously with the opening of said shutter to force circulation of said air.

2. In a mechanical refrigerator', a refrigerating unit having an evaporator, a fast freeze compartment housing said evaporator, a freeze hold and a normal refrigerating compartment, ducts interconnecting said compartments, means comprising shutters movable between open andclosed positions in said ducts connecting said fast freeze and freeze hold compartments and connecting said freeze hold and said normal refrigerating compartments, a blower set in motion by opening of either oi said shutters, and means for opening and closes switch |89. This energizes motor |45 and also the solenoid |6| which opens shutter |55. Cold air is blown from compartment |48 through the bottom of compartment |83 into I8| and out through ducts |11 and |83 into the compartment |48 to establish circulation and to refrigerate compartment |83.

Lowering of the temperature in compartment |8`| will cause thermostat |8'1 to close the respective shutter '|19 and will open switch |89 to shut off the blower motor and deenergize the solenoid so that shutters |55 will also close.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does notdesire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed said shutters between said fast freeze and freeze hold compartments upon opening of the shutter between the freeze hold and the normal refrigerating compartments.

3. In a mechanical refrigerator multiple refrigerating compartments, a refrigerating unit having an evaporator in one of said compartments, means responsive to the high and low temperature limits in each of said compartments regulating the flow of air through said compartments and operating said refrigerating unit.

4. In a refrigerating unit of the cascade type, a refrigerant circuit having an evaporator, a secondary refrigerant circuit' having a receiver and an expansion valve and a pump connected to said second circuit between said receiver and expansion valve circulating liquid from said receiver through a conduit encircling said evaporator to from said receiver around said evaporator to defrost said evaporator.

6. In a mechanical refrigerator, a refrigerating unit having an evaporator, a fast freeze compartment refrigerated by said evaporator, additional freeze hold and normal refrigeration compartments, means for refrigerating said last named compartments fromsaid fast freeze compartment comprising upper and lower ducts connectingthe top of the-fast freeze and freeze hold compartments and the bottoms thereof, respectively, additional upper and lower ducts connecting the tops of the freeze hold and normal refrigeration compartments and the bottoms thereof, respectively, a damper in the lower duct of said first named compartment, a second damper in the upper duct of said last named compartment, thermostatic means in said freeze hold compartment for controlling the first mentioned damper and additional thermostatic means in said normal re.- frigeration compartment f or controlling said second mentioned damper.

7. In a mechanical refrigerator, a refrlgerating unit having an evaporator, a fast freeze coinpaxtment refrigerated by said evaporator, additional freeze hold and normal refrigeration compartments, means for refrigerating said last named compartments from said fast freeze compartment comprising upper and lower ducts connecting the top of the fast freeze and freeze hold compartments and the bottoms thereof, respectively, additional upper and lower ducts connecting the tops of the freeze hold and normal refrigeration compartments and the bottoms thereof, respectively, a damper in the lower duct of said ilrst named compartment, a second damper in the upper duct of said last named compartment, thermostatic means in said freeze hold compartment for controlling the first mentioned damper, additional thermostatic lmeans :ln said normal refrigeration compartment for controlling said second mentioned damper, a fan and means operable by either of said thermostatic means for energizing said fan.

8. In a mechanical refrigerator, a refrigerating unit having an evaporator, a fast freeze compartment refrigerated by said evaporator, additional freeze hold and normal refrigeration compartments, means for refrigerating saidlast named compartments from said fast freeze compartment comprising upper and lower ducts connecting the top of the fast freeze and freeze hold compartments and the bottoms thereof. respectively, additional upper and lower ducts connecting the tops of the freeze hold and normal refrigeration compartments and the bottoms there of, respectively, a damper in the lower duct of said first named compartment, a second damper in the upper duct of said last named compartment and means exposed to the air of each of said additional compartments connected to actuate one of said dampers for regulating the temperature of its respective compartment.

' CHARLES PASSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,180,974 Atchison et al. Nov. 21, 1939 2,285,946 Kalischer June 9, 1942 2,346,287 Borgard et al. Apr. 11, 1944 2,416,777 Schweller Mar. 4. 1947 

